A Look Inside Design at Shopify

We're tracking down InVision users inside the world's most amazing companies to discover their favorite tools, books, methods, and the philosophy behind what makes them so awesome. This week we interviewed Serena Ngai, Lead Designer on the Platform Team at Shopify, in Ottawa, Canada.

Tell us about your role and responsibilities at Shopify?

"A great designer knows the right questions to ask in order to drill down to the core of the problem."

How did you get into design and what was your path into your current role?

I have a computer science degree, and a fine arts background. In my last year of university, I realized I wasn’t happy doing software development, and I really missed creating art. I started freelancing design and development, in efforts to merge my two interests. One of my clients needed a Shopify ecommerce theme, and that’s when I realized their office was in the same city as me! I ended up joining the team after I got to know some of the employees here.

What are the three critical elements of an effective workspace?

Great people. Hands down, my favourite and most important part of my work environment.

Flexibility. There’s lots of open space and cozy seating areas spread around the office. I love the flexibility of not being tied down to one desk all day.

Breakout rooms. Sometimes it’s nice to have some quiet space to get your thoughts together, or pair up with a partner on a project.

"...trust your gut. As with anything in life, the more you practice, the more you’ll improve."

What blogs, news sites, or magazines are you loving at the moment?

Twitter is my quick go-to for keeping updated with latest articles and topics. I’m currently reading Cereal, Kinfolk, Offscreen, and Viewport Industries’ Digest magazine. I love the feeling of flipping through a beautifully designed print magazine.

Who do you follow on Twitter who you think is awesome?

Too many people to name! I’ve met so many great friends through Twitter alone. The @organizedthings account has been a fascinating follow. I think their tagline is, “Everything in perfect order”, so calming for a designer!

What do you think are the wider industry trends that are changing the nature of your role?